The Indianapolis Colts are looking to keep their momentum going against a team that, at the beginning of the year, looked like a surefire loss on the schedule. That is no longer the case, however, as the Kansas City Chiefs are a shocking 5-5 after 10 games.
If the season ended today, the Colts would be the third seed in the AFC playoffs while the Chiefs wouldn't be in the postseason at all. Just like we all predicted, right?
This matchup will be a huge one for both teams. For the Colts, the number one seed is on the line. For the Chiefs, simply staying afloat in the playoff hunt is at stake for them. A loss for the Chiefs this weekend would drop them to under .500 and their playoff hopes would be on life support, to say the least.
Even more daunting for the Chiefs as they head into this Week 12 game against the AFC South-leading Colts is who is running the defense in Indianapolis. Lou Anarumo, who was hired as the Colts' defensive coordinator this offseason, has been one of the best in the business at coming up with schemes to slow down Patrick Mahomes.
Lou Anarumo is X-factor in Colts' Week 12 showdown vs. Chiefs
Before coming to Indy, Anarumo spent the previous six years as the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, where he excelled at ensuring Mahomes didn't have big games.
The greatest example of Anarumo's defense dominating Mahomes was in the 2022 AFC Championship Game, where the Chiefs quarterback put together one of the worst performances anyone's ever seen from him. When that game was said and done, he'd thrown two costly interceptions and had been sacked four times.
As a whole, the Bengals were able to get the better of the Chiefs in three of the six games where Anarumo was the DC. Anarumo's defense played a massive role in why, and even in the games where the Bengals lost, the defense still gave Mahomes a tough time.
Colts fans are sure hoping that the success Anarumo had against Mahomes made the move with him from Cincinnati to Indianapolis because the number one seed is on the line. This is a game the Colts have to win if they want to prove to everyone that they truly are for real this season. Let's hope Anarumo still has the magic touch in slowing down the Chiefs' franchise quarterback.